BV promoted Brown to CEO just a year after acquiring Brighton-based
Midnight in a deal worth up to £3.5m over four years (PRWeek, 10
August 2001).

The move comes as AIM-listed BV Group announced it is to merge its
advertising arm, BV Agency, with direct marketing firm Spearhead. It is
understood both announcements form part of a plan to create an
integrated marcoms brand, headed by Brown.

'Our plan is to offer our clients a far broader range of services and
this is why Midnight sold to the BV Group in the first place,' said
Brown.

Brown replaces BV founder Rupert Vereker in the CEO role, but will
continue heading Midnight as a dual responsibility.

Vereker - a former director of City PR agency Buchanan Communications -
steps aside to become commercial director, working with Brown on
strategic development.

He said the group's flotation on the AIM 18 months ago helped fund its
acquisitions - including Midnight - with a view to consolidating its PR,
advertising, marketing and online businesses.

'The objective is to start looking at the group branding and decide
which brand we should go for,' said Vereker.

'There may be acquisitions in the future and we don't want to lock
ourselves into one direction,' he added.

While the group is yet to name the marcoms brand, it is thought the
Midnight name will remain in some form.